Miles B. Cooper

Life lessons in the law following a life lost It was a crisp fall day, the great window in the gathering space framing skeletal trees outside. I sat in the audience, listening to the memorial service. People got up and told stories about the man who had passed, and the man’s contributions to the community. That community included family, friends,...

Balancing your “thinking work” with lawyering’s responsive requirements The lawyer focused on the computer screen, considering which direction to go with the mediation brief. There was a knock on the office door – the receptionist had a quick question. The lawyer answered it, and then attempted to go back to the brief. A text came in. The lawyer pulled out...

The strategy, art, and irritation inherent to deposition objections “What did you do next?” The lawyer was deposing the defendant driver about the incident itself. “Objection! He’s already told you that he was not on his cell phone or texting and that after the collision, after first calling 911, he then immediately went and rendered aid to your client,” the...

Preparing for the defense expert’s deposition “I see you wrote a book on the topic you’re here to discuss,” said the lawyer to the expert during the expert’s deposition. “Yes, I did. Unfortunately,” the expert appeared to simultaneously shrug and smirk, “it is no longer in print.” “That’s true,” said the lawyer while reaching into the lawyer’s messenger bag, “but...

The trial lawyer and appellate lawyer’s delicate pas de deux The lawyer smiled inside as the clerk finished reading the verdict. Substantially more than the defense’s last offer. The lawyer buzzed a bit while taking down the jury polling and as the judge said a final “thank you” to the jury. Then the lawyer went outside to get feedback from...

Overcoming the inherent challenges when negotiating policy limits cases “I have good news and bad news,” the mediator started, “The defense is ready to make a new offer. But they want you to move off your policy demand before I have authority to extend the offer. They say it is your move.” That was true. It was the lawyer’s move....

Identifying and proving mild traumatic brain injury – when should you make a TBI claim? “Well, I don’t remember all of what happened. I woke up in the ambulance. Things were kind of fuzzy after that.” The lawyer was talking to a potential client. The emergency room had given the injured person a concussion recovery handout. The individual doubted there...

Identifying and proving wage loss without a W-2 The lawyer listened to the client as the client explained the client’s earnings history. “Since the incident, I don’t have the strength to do big procedures. I have to turn those down.” The client was a surgeon. The lawyer looked at the profit and loss statements, which showed almost identical income in...

Meet the staff who control the courtroom The lawyer, opposing a summary judgment motion, answered the judge’s question. Earlier, the lawyer had noticed an individual with a notepad quietly sit down in the witness box as their line had been called. The lawyer recognized the individual from past visits. One of the department’s two research attorneys. As the lawyer distinguished...

Experts need to show, tell and teach. You need to empasize your expert’s objectivity and defuse the common defense attacks The young lawyer cringed when the treating vocational rehab expert, testifying in a civil trial, said “insurance.” Yes, the expert was referencing workers’ compensation insurance. While not a veteran expert, it was the young lawyer’s witness and the young lawyer’s...